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KUALA LUMPUR: Hindraf Makkal Sakthi, a human rights NGO, has expressed doubts that both sides of the political divide would ever come together and rectify the racist provisions in the Federal Constitution. “Their paramount interest would be to protect their own political survival.”

The fact is that racism has infected every aspect of the people’s lives in Malaysia and has affected day to day life as well as the well-being of the nation, said Hindraf Chairman P Waythamoorthy in a statement. “No country in the world can openly condone racism and entrench it in the Constitution.”

The youths, in particular, are aware of this, pointed out Waytha.

The non-Malay minorities, including Muslims, which make up over 45 per cent of the population in Malaysia have been marginalised, suppressed and oppressed ever since independence in 1957 as well as Malaysia in 1963, added the Hindraf chief in the statement. “Malaysia is in a state of uncertainty and sinking.”

Hindraf has no doubt that racism has planted the seeds of hatred, distrust and ill feelings among the various communities in Malaysia. “It’s a ‘time bomb’ just waiting to explode.”

Hindraf was expressing shock over a statement by the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) Honorary Secretary-General Prematilaka KD Serisena that the Minority Affairs Ministry (MAMi) was not needed. “This statement by a multi-religious body shows that the plight of the minorities will forever be at the mercy of the powers that be,” lamented Waytha.

Again, said the Hindraf chief, MCCBCHST was a bundle of contradictions on the proposed ministry. “On the one hand, they wonder who’s going to head it. On the other hand, they claim that the existing MPs are sufficient to address the issue of minorities in Malaysia.”

“More than 100,000 Indians would not take to the streets in Kuala Lumpur on 25 November 2007 if they were well represented by MPs.”

Waytha conceded that developed nations like the USA and EU countries did not have minority affairs ministries. “They take it as their moral responsibility.”

“Often, they bend over backwards to represent the rights of minorities.”

The Hindraf chief cited a long list of issues affecting minorities which were left unattended by MCCBCHST’s so-called MPs. “There are no takers for these issues. We don’t hear the slightest whisper in Parliament.”

“The Judiciary delivers judgments which are not in accordance with the Constitution and/or refuse to interpret it in line with the intention of the framers of the document.”